Flexible rear shield for rotary lawn mower

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a rotary lawn mower comprising a blade housing including a top deck, a generally annular wall depending from the top deck and substantially enclosing a cutter blade, and a rear wall depending from the top deck, extending generally transversely of the direction of intended travel, and spaced rearwardly from the annular wall. Also disclosed is pivot means supported by the blade housing and having a transversely extending axis adjacent to the rear wall, and a flexible shield carried by the pivot means for pivotal movement about said axis, extending across substantially the entire distance between the rear wheels supporting the blade housing, and extending in closely adjacent relation to the ground, not withstanding variation in the vertical distance of the blade housing above the ground. Also disclosed is spring means extending forwardly and rearwardly of the shield for yieldably limiting movement of an upper portion of the shield from a position adapted to locate a lower portion of the shield in closely adjacent relation to the ground.

United States Patent 1 91 Jespersen et al. 51 Apr. 17, 1973 [54]FLEXIBLE REAR SHIELD FOR 3,577,871 5/1971 Engler ..56/255 ROTARY LAWNMOWER V Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey [75] Inventors. Herbert A.Jespersen; Earl H. Kldd,

both of Galesburg, m. AttorneyRobert E. Clemency et al.

[73] Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation, 57 ABSTR CT Waukegan, lll. uD1sclosed herem 1s a rotary lawn mower compnsmga Flledi J 1972 bladehousing including a top deck, a generally annu- [211 App] No; 260,128lar wall depending from the top deck and substantially I enclosing acutter blade, and a rear wall depending j from the top deck, extendinggenerally transversely of [52] US. Cl ..56/320.1, 56/l7.4 the directionof intended travel and spaced rear [51] Int. Cl. ..A0ld 67/00, AOld35/12 wardly from the annular wall. Also disclosed i pivot [58] Field ofSearch .;..56/320.l, 320.2, means supported by the blade housing andhaving a 56/255 105; transversely extending axis adjacent to the rearwall, 280/1545 1525 R and a flexible shield carried by the pivot meansfor pivotal movement about said axis, extending across [56] Referem (medsubstantially the entire distance between the rear UNITED STATES pATENTSwheels supporting the blade housing, and extending in closely adjacentrelation to the ground, not withstand- 2,514,407 7/1950 May ..56/l7 4 ivariation in the vertical distance of the blade hous g g l ing above theground. Also disclosed is spring means 3 040 503 6/l962 0:1 Jinn 5::..56 17 4 extending fmwaldly and Tamara) of the Shield for 3,057,643 101962 Eberwine...,. 280/1545 R yieldalfly limitilg "PPer Ponion 3,190,0616/1965 Gilbertson 56 10.5 the shleld from a'posltlon d p t0 locate alower 3,226,920 1/1966 Gilbertson ..56/255 portion of the shield inclosely adjacent relation to the 3,378,995 4/1968 Welsh 56/3201 ground.3,524,307 8/1970 Dahl ..56/l7 4 3,555,793 1 1971 Chapman ..56/17 4 7Clairm, 5 Drawing Figures 2/ M (Q U1, u m k X 1 '2 23 s i I C) 5 J g g I2 FLEXIBLE REAR SHIELD FOR ROTARY LAWN MOWER BACKGROUND OF INVENTION THEDRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a lawn mower embodying various ofthe features of the invention.

structions are found in the U.S. McDonagh Pat. No.

3,106,812 issued Oct. 15,1963; in the U.S. Gilbertson Pat. No..3,190,06lissued June 22, 1965; in the U.S. Miskiewicz Pat. No. 3,212,245 issuedOct. 19, 1965; in the U.S. Nelson Pat. No. 3,402,535 issued Sept. 24,1968; in the US. Groll Pat. No. 3,432,183 issued Mar. 1 1, 1969; in theU.S. Miskiewicz Pat. No. 3,570,225 issued Mar. 16, 1971; and in the U.S.Dahl Pat. No. 3,577,714 issued May 4, 1971.

More particularly, the invention relates to rotary SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION The invention provides a flexible shield which is pivotlymounted adjacent to a transversely extending blade housing rear walllocated behind an annular cutter blade enclosing wall, which extendsacross substantially the entire width of the lawn mower and between apair of ground engaging wheels supporting the rearward portion of thelawn mower, and which is preferably provided with means for yieldablybiasing or urging the shield into a position engaging the ground orstubble so as to effectively block rearward discharge of particles athigh velocity, not withstanding variation in the height of the lawnmower housing above the ground.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of aflexible shield which is located between the rear wheels and extendssubstantially across the entire width of the lawn mower and which isefi'ective to protect the operator from injury from objects thrown fromunder the housing at the rear of the mower.

Still another of the objects of the invention is the provision of meansfor yieldably limiting movement of such a shield away from a positionadapted to locate a lower portion of the shield in closely adjacentrelation to the ground.

Another of the principal objects of the invention is provision of aflexible shield which can be maintained, without special adjustment, ineffective blocking position at the rear of the lawn mower regardless ofthe height of the blade housing above the ground.

Another of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of arotary lawn mower including, at the rearward end thereof, a flexibleshield which does not introduce hazardous situations under certainmowing conditions. 7

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a shield whichis effective while, at the same time, is simple in design, and low incost.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom view of a portion of 'the lawn mower shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view, partially in section, ofthe lawn mower shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, partially in section, of aportion of the lawn mower shown in FIG. 1 and also showing,.in dottedoutline, the location of various of the components when the housing islowered with respect to the ground.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of various of the components of the lawnmower shown in FIG. 1.

Before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited in its appli- 1 cation to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts set forth in the following generaldescription or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since theinvention is capable of othe embodiments and of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and not of limitation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Shown in the drawings is a rotary lawn mower 11which embodies various of the features of the invention and whichincludes a blade housing 13 having a horizontally extending top deck 17with a central portion 19 and with an extension or rear portion 21extending rearwardly from the central portion. Depending from the topdeck 17 is a generally annular, verticallyextending, substantiallycontinuous wall 23 which generally encloses or surrounds the path of theperiphery of the cutter blade 27, and which can include one or moredischarge openings 28, and which has (See FIG. 4) a lower edge 29located adjacent to or slightly. below the plane of rotation of thecutter blade 27.

Depending from the rear margin of the rear portion 21 of the top deck 17is a vertically extending rear wall 31 having a lower edge 33 which canbe located abov the lower edge 29 of the annular wall 23.

Depending from the side margins of the rear portion 21 of the top deck17 are vertically extending side wall segments 37 which connect thelaterally outward margins of the rear wall 31 to the annular wall 23.

The blade housing 13 is suitably supported by three or more groundengaging wheels including two transversely spaced rear wheels 39 mountedfor rotation adjacent to the side wall segments 37 and about axeslocated forwardly of the rear wall 31. Means canalso be provided forvertically adjusting the relationship of the wheels to the bladehousing, 13 so as to vary the height of the grass being cut. Anysuitable arrangement can be employed. An example of one such arrangementis disclosed in the U.S. Shaw Pat. No. 2,947,132 issued Aug. 2, 1960.Such variation in the height of cut involves selective verticalpositioning of the blade housing 13 relative to the ground.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a flexible shield 51which is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending.transversely of the direction of intended travel and adjacent to thelower edge 33 of the rear wall 31. While other flexible materi-' als canbe employed, it is preferred to form the shield 51 out of a vinylplastic material which is-of light weight as well as being tough andflexible.

The shield 51 includes a main portion 53 which is generally flatwhenuntensioned, and which has a relatively thin thickness, and which tapersto a relative thin lower edge 57. In addition, the shield 51 has a widthso I that, when mounted on the blade housing 13, it extendssubstantially across the whole transverse distance between the rearwheels 39. Still further, the shield 51 is dimensioned such that, whenthe blade housing 13 is located in the uppermost position, the loweredge 57 of the shield 51 will be at least -closely adjacent to theground and preferably will be in engagement with the ground. I

As indicated, means are provided for supporting the shield 51 solely bythe lawn mower 11 and including means for pivotly mounting the shield51' for movement about a transversely extending axis located adjacent tothe lower edge 33 of the rear wall 31, and so that the shield extendsbetween the rear wheels 39 for substantially the entire distancetherebetween. While other arrangements could be employed, in theillustrated construction, a central part 59 of the upper margin of theshield 51 is slightly enlarged to accommodate a lengthwise bore 61 whichreceives a pivot pin or rod 63 supported, at each-end, by respectivehangers 67 whichv can be made of wire or sheet metal and which aresuitably supported fromthe blade housing 13, and

shield 51 and the location of the shield mounting are such as to preventcontact between the shield 51 and the cutter blade 27.

While the weight of the shield 51 can be relied upon to locate theshield 51 in engagement with the ground to thereby block high velocityparticle discharge, in further accordance with the invention, it ispreferred to additionally provide means for yieldably urging an upperpart of the shield 51 toward a generally vertically extending positionas as to more or less assure location of the'shield51 in blockingrelation to any particle which might be thrown at high velocity'bythecutting blade 27 past the lower edge 29 of the annular wall 23. In otherwords, such yieldable means serves to yieldably limit movement of anupper part of the shield 51 from a position adapted to locate a lowerpart of the shield 51 in closely adjacent relation to'th'e ground.

While various biasing arrangements can be employed,

in the illustrated construction, there is employed a wire spring 71which includes a bite 73 secured by one of the bolts 69 to the bladehousing 13, and which further includes two parallel L shaped endportions 77, located in spaced fore and aft relation to each other andwith the upper part of the shield 51 located there between.

Each such end portion 77 including a horizontal leg 79 and a leg 81extending vertically from the outer end of the horizontal leg 79 andlocated centrally between the transverse ends of the shield 51. Inaddition, each of the vertically extending legs 81 can include aterminal portion or part 83 which is bent horizontally to provideincreased bearing surface against the shield 51.

The L shaped end portions 77 are spaced from each other in the fore andaft direction with the shield 51 located there between, and the verticallegs 81 extend downwardly such distance so as to freelyallow slightswinging-of the shield 51 from a vertical position before engagement ofthe shield with one of the L shaped end portions 77. Such engagement notonly serves to travel of any particle thrown at high velocity under thelower edge 29 of the annular wall 23 by the cutter blade 27. Because ofthe flexibility of the shield 51 as well as the biasing action of thespring 71, the shield 51 will act as an efiective barrier regardless ofthe height ,of'the blade housing 13 above the ground. in addition,location of the shield 51 between the rear wheels 39 serves to reducethe possiblityof possible escape between the lateral ends of the shield51 and the rear wheels 39.

The flexibility of the shield 51 is especially ad-, vantageous as itpermits accommodation by. the shield 51 to'various vertical locations ofthe blade housing 13 relative to the ground, as it permits passage ofthe shield 51 over obstacles, such as tree roots and the'like, andbecause such flexibility permits folding or rolling of the shield 51under the rear wall 31 in such manner as to permit reversal of thedirection of movement of the blade housing. 13, while maintaining aneffective barrier to high velocity solid particle discharge.

Various other features of the invention are set forth in the followingclaims.

We claim:

l. A lawn mower comprising 'a blade housing including a top deck, agenerally annular wall depending from said top deck, having a loweredge, and substantially enclosing a cutter blade, a rear wall dependingfrom said top deck, extending generally transversely of the direction ofintended travel, spaced rearwardly from said annular wall, and having alower edge, means including a pair of transversely spaced rear wheelsfor supporting said blade housing for travel along the ground, saidblade housing supporting means including means for selectivelyvertically locating said blade housing relative to the ground, pivotmeans supported by said blade housing and having atransversely'extending axis adjacent to said rearwall and, a flexibleshield carried by said pivotmeans for pivotal 'rnoveing locating meansin its uppermost position relative to the ground, extendingsubstantially vertically downwardly to at least closely adjacentrelation to the ground.

2. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 1 and further including springmeans, supported on said housing, and extending forwardly and rearwardlyof said shield for yieldably limiting movement of an upper portion ofsaid shield from a position adapted to locate a lower portion of saidshield inclosely adjacent relation to the ground.

3. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 2 wherein said spring meansincludes two vertically extending spring end portions spaced in the foreand aft direction with said shield being located there between.

4. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 3 wherein each said spring endportion includes a horizontally extending part adjacent the lower endthereof.

5. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 1 wherein said shield includesa portion which is generally flat when untensioned, and which has arelatively thin thickness.

6. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 5 wherein said portion tapersto a relative thin lower edge.

1. A lawn mower comprising a blade housing including a top deck, agenerally annular wall depending from said top deck, having a loweredge, and substantially enclosing a cutter blade, a rear wall dependingfrom said top deck, extending generally transversely of the direction ofintended travel, spaced rearwardly from said annular wall, and having alower edge, means including a pair of transversely spaced rear wheelsfor supporting said blade housing for travel along the ground, saidblade housing supporting means including means for selectivelyvertically locating said blade housing relative to the ground, pivotmeans supported by said blade housing and having a transverselyextending axis adjacent to said rear wall and a flexible shield carriedby said pivot means for pivotal movement about said axis, extendingacross substantially the entire distance between said rear wheels and,when said blade housing is located by said blade housing means in itsuppermost position relative to the ground, extending substantiallyvertically downwardly to at least closely adjacent relation to theground.
 2. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 1 and further includingspring means supported on said housing and extending forwardly andrearwardly of said shield for yieldably limiting movement of an upperportion of said shield from a position adapted to locate a lower portionof said shield in closely adjacent relation to the ground.
 3. A lawnmower in accordance with claim 2 wherein said spring means includes twovertically extending spring end portions spaced in the fore and aftdirection with said shield being located there between.
 4. A lawn mowerin accordance with claim 3 wherein each said spring end portion includesa horizontally extending part adjacent the lower end thereof.
 5. A lawnmower in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said shield includes a portionwhich is generally flat when untensioned, and which has a relativelythin thickness.
 6. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 5 wherein saidportion tapers to a relative thin lower edge.
 7. A lawn mower inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said shield is supported from said bladehousing solely by said pivot means and has a relatively thin lower partwith a relatively thin lower edge.